Friday, December 5, 2014

Thank you, zoo volunteers!

Posted by: Julie Ann Barowski, Volunteer Program Coordinator

Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

Today is International Volunteer Day, and we want to take this opportunity to celebrate Woodland Park Zoo volunteers! More than 1,000 individuals generously donate their time in a variety of ways every year, and we are so appreciative and proud of all the amazing work they do!

Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

Whether you visit during the day or an evening event like WildLights, you’ll surely encounter some of our wonderful volunteers. They offer a friendly smile, interesting animal info and stories, maps and directions, and whatever assistance you may need. Maybe you’ve had a zoo volunteer come to the rescue of a skinned knee with a cool zebra-striped bandage. Perhaps a volunteer has taught your family just how a goat likes to be petted, or offered you the chance to touch a snake for the first time. Even if you haven’t yet met a zoo volunteer in person, their hard work is evident from the beautifully kept Rose Garden to the freshly cleaned exhibits with their well cared for animal residents.

Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

But our happy guests and animals here at the zoo aren’t the only ones benefiting from the efforts of our zoo volunteers. Their impact also reaches far beyond our zoo grounds. The work of every volunteer extends Woodland Park Zoo’s capacity to achieve our mission of saving animals and their habitats, both locally and around the world. Our volunteers often are directly involved in conservation actions and act as strong advocates in their own communities, educating others and leading by example to help achieve a bright and environmentally sustainable future for all.

Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

More than 550 adult volunteers donate their time on a regular basis throughout the year as a part of the zoo’s volunteer program, helping us with nearly every aspect of our operations. Additionally, WPZ has a dynamic teen volunteer program, ZooCorps, through which more than 150 young adults give service. We also are honored to have the support of hundreds more who volunteer at the zoo’s annual Jungle Party fundraiser or through group service projects throughout the year.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

On behalf of all the WPZ staff, conservation partners, and of course the animals, we take this opportunity to applaud and thank all of our volunteers. Their dedication, passion and generosity are truly inspirational!